Board to consider AIU agreements, Head Start MOU and music instrument bid awards

District education staff asked the North Hills Board on June 5 to add several service agreements and bid awards to the legislative agenda, including Allegheny Intermediate Unit contracts and a Head Start transition MOU supported by a small United Way grant.

The items matter because they secure specialized services, a virtual K–6 option, transition funding for early learners, and music‑program instruments for student instruction.

The presenter requested board approval of an addendum to the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU) comprehensive services agreement for the 2025–26 School‑Based Access Program so the AIU may support the district in seeking reimbursement under that program for certain health services. The presenter also asked the board to approve a Waterfront Learning Services addendum (Waterfront Learning provides the K–6 virtual learning option facilitated by district teachers) and the AIU services agreement for July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. The presenter described the AIU as serving “Allegheny County's 40 2 suburban school districts, 5 vocational and technical schools,” offering about “a 40 programs and services,” and comprising six divisions that include early childhood, special education, teaching and learning, technology, finance and others.

The board was also asked to approve a memorandum of understanding between North Hills School District, the Allegheny Intermediate Unit Head Start Agency, Try Again Together (transcription: Trying Together) and the United Way of Southwest PA for the 2025–26 school year. The MOU facilitates a $500 grant from the United Way to support kindergarten transition activities — listed uses include the kindergarten forum, story time, transition collaborative, camp kindergarten, and readiness screening. The presenter said the MOU “fulfills the high 5 and state and federal requirements for kindergarten transitioning under the Every Student Succeeds Act and is required for the district's federal programs application.”

Finally, the board was presented with bid awards for music instruments totaling $155,466.78; the presenter noted that where no award is listed for a particular instrument the recommendation is to reject that item’s bids. The presenter said seven vendors responded; the award recommendations were based on the lowest acceptable bid and instrument suitability, and pursuing these bids will reduce instrument expenditure by about $29,000 compared with prior quotes. The presenter moved the items to the legislative agenda; the motion was seconded and carried.